Luke's Poncho

About
this scene:

Well, it's all
about Luke's mysterious poncho. There are a number of still
shots where Luke is wearing this poncho, but in the finished
film the poncho is nowhere to be seen. The poncho actually
only appears in these scenes in the final version of the
film: when our heroes enter Docking Bay 94 to start their
fateful trip on the Milennium Falcon and Luke puts on this
poncho (for some odd reason) just before they go through the
doorway, when Leia wraps it around Luke to comfort him on
their flight away from the Death Star after Ben has been
killed, and after the arrival at the Rebel base when Luke is
wearing it as he gets off the small transport in the hangar.

It seems likely
that some of the other scenes may have actually been filmed
as alternate versions with Luke wearing his poncho. In fact,
a good explanation of the Docking Bay 94 scene with Luke
wearing the poncho would be that it was the only version of
that scene available or that it was the best one to use, and
so Luke had to be shown inexplicably putting on the poncho as
they reach the bay doorway, just before there is a cut to the
inside of the bay--and then not wearing the poncho again once
they're on board the Falcon. In any case, this is merely an
interesting look at alternate or missing scenes of Luke and
his beloved poncho.

These stills have
shown up in numerous locations including trading cards and
Lucasfilm magazines.

Luke with floppy
hat, goggles, and poncho.

Luke, posing in
his poncho next to a lone vaporator.

An alternate
version of Luke's poncho grief upon seeing his home
destroyed.

Luke has located
Artoo (as well as his poncho), but is soon to face the
Tusken Raiders.

Han and Luke (in
poncho) check out the ships in the rebel hangar.

Behind The
UnScenes

George Lucas
talks to Mark Hamill and his poncho about the burning
farm scene.